Special victory for Purdon

Winning a Queensland Derby was never going to be one of Mark Purdon’s biggest victories but it was one of the more sentimental.

Three generations of Purdons were on track at Albion Park to see More The Better win the Group II race on Saturday night.

Hall of Fame trainer Roy Purdon was in Queensland to see his son drive and train More The Better to victory.

The former champion trainer part owns More The Better, racing as The More The Better across the Tasman, with good friend Sir David Levene and Mark Purdon.

Also on course on Saturday night was Mark Purdon’s sons Nathan and Michael.

‘‘That definitely did make it a lot more special to have everyone there,’’ Mark Purdon said of the sentimental victory.

More The Better beat home Shartin by a long neck with a further length back to former Kiwi My Casino Belle in third.

Purdon, who trains in partnership with Natalie Rasmussen, has now produced More The Better for a perfect three wins from as many starts in his Queensland campaign.

More The Better was scheduled to head to Victoria for the Breeders Crown series but Purdon said he was holding off on a final decision after Saturday’s night’s run took its toll on the Bettor’s Delight colt when he pulled a shoe in the running.

‘‘We’ll just wait and see how he is in the next few days and make a decision from there,’’ Purdon said.

Purdon and Rasmussen’s Breeders Crown team has already taken a significant cut with the retirement of the soon to be named three-year-old filly of the year Spanish Armada.

The six-time Group I winner has suffered a fracture of a fetlock joint and the decision was made not to risk the valuable breeding prospect.

She was retired with stake earnings of $787,470 from 19 starts that produced 14 wins, one second and three thirds.

Bred by Woodlands Stud, Spanish Armada was purchased by Jean Feiss, who has since sold the breeding rights, for $75,000 at the 2015 Australasian Classic Yearling Sale.